This past spring, the Los Angeles City Council voted 8-to-4 to accept the gift of a four-legged robot named “Spot”. The public meeting was interrupted, at times, by shouting, applause, and banners urging “No Robot Dogs”.
The dog will be used by the LA Police Department.
I’m calling it a dog, but it’s actually a $280,000 robot, made by Boston Dynamics.
Boston Dynamics claims on the company’s website, that there were more than 1,000 of its “Spot” robots operating in 35 countries, as of last year.
Reportedly, “Spot” can run, climb stairs, and open doors, and can be equipped with cameras and microphones. It is not currently capable of catching Frisbees, but it can talk.
A dog that can hold an intelligent conversation might be even more fun than one that can catch a Frisbee, but in an intellectual sense of “fun”.
Boston Dynamics was recently acquired by the South Korean-based automotive company, Hyundai. (Not to be confused with a North Korean-based company.)
One of the challenges with robot design is how to make the robot look harmless. Robot vacuum cleaners are a great example of a friendly design solution.
Who could be frightened of a circle, roughly the size of a birthday cake? I mean, other than my cat, Roscoe. But he’s also freaked out by a normal, human-controlled vacuum cleaner. How much more disturbing would it be for him, if it were shaped like a dog?
We humans, meanwhile, have somewhat conflicted attitudes, regarding dogs.
Yes, they are man’s best friend. Although I suspect most dog owners are actually women; especially if we’re talking about the little white fluffy dogs wearing bows.
“Spot” is about the size of a Labrador Retriever, the most popular breed in America… so then, attractive to both men and women. And not fluffy.
I’m thinking that Boston Dynamics might have been on the right track when they designed their robot to look sort of like a canine, rather than, say, a lion or a bear. And the name, “Spot” no doubt helps to reassure people, especially those of us who grew up reading the “Dick and Jane” primers in first grade.
But dogs are also known to bite people. Apparently, President Biden’s German Shepherd, Commander, has bitten people working around the White House almost a dozen times. You might think something would have been done about that, after Bite Number One, but when you’re President, I guess people cut you some slack.
The White House had said that it was working on “additional leashing protocols and training” for Commander. “As we’ve noted before, the White House can be a stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family continues to work on ways to help Commander handle the often unpredictable nature of the White House grounds,” said Elizabeth Alexander, a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden.
[Editor’s note: Commander has been banished from the White House, according to an official statement shared on October 4.]
As far as I can tell, Boston Dynamics “Spot” has never bitten anyone, in spite of being operational in 35 countries… including, no doubt, some Communist countries where it’s probably allowable to bite people.
In fact, “Spot” doesn’t even have a head, in its standard configuration. I personally find that disturbing. I strongly believe a robot should have a head. Not teeth, but a head.
And a neck. With a leash attached. And a real person holding the leash.
Some people would prefer that we don’t have to deal with robots, period.
But I think we better get used to them.
No Robots from YungHan Chang on Vimeo.